"Mitch unifies all of us, regardless of philosophy or what part of the country we come from," Rubio said of McConnell, according to a spokesman for the Florida senator. "He’s the smartest political mind around and a great listener. Above all else, what Mitch cares about is whether we succeed as a conference and as a country, and that’s why I’m proud to nominate him for another term as Leader."

Additionally, Texas senator John Cornyn was selected to serve as Republican whip in the Senate.

"I’m honored to have been chosen by my colleagues to help lead our caucus during such a critical time for this country," Cornyn said in a statement. "Core Texas values like hard work, limited government, and individual liberty will continue to guide me in this new role. I look forward to working with the Conference to tackle the major hurdles before us, beginning with the looming fiscal cliff."